The murder of Israeli actor Juliano Mer-Khamis in Jenin on Monday was most likely a pre-mediated and well-planned assassination, Palestinian former militant Zakarya Zubeidi told Haaretz.

“There is one organization or body, central, big, behind this act,” said Zubeidi, who once headed the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade in Jenin and went on to co-manage the Freedom Theater in the West Bank city with Mer-Khamis. “This was not a simple operation. There is a big hand directed.”

A lone masked gunman waited for Mer-Khamis at his car near the theater, said Zubeidi, and shot him at close range. It was still not yet clear who stood behind the murder, but Zubeidi said the Palestinian security forces were investigating with vigor.

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